Lots to do...

Well, it's been two weeks since the Writers Boot Camp in Baltimore, and since that time I spent a week traveling for business. I didn't do any writing, but did go over most of the feedback from the Boot Camp instructors and fellow novelists. The bottom line is that I have a huge decision to make, and I think it's already been made. Without going into specifics, I received amazing feedback about the inclusion of one specific historical character in my novel. Much of what happens is a direct result of this character. The problem is that in the novel I'm working on he's not really in the forefront. He's got a couple scenes and that's it. EVERYONE at the boot camp thought the novel should revolve around him, since he's such a cool historical figure and it's one of those no-brainers. I even had two guys tell me they're pissed they didn't think to use him in a story. So, I need to either redo the entire story to focus on this character and not the others, or re-tool the story to include this guy in a much larger way. One of the reasons why I didn't have him front and center is that he's planned for a prequel. Of course, everyone will just say - "Well, write the damn prequel first, ya moron!!" The problem is that the prequel is a much harder book to write, and I think I first need to learn the ropes with this novel before I tackle the prequel. Not sure if that makes sense or not :) Anyway, in the next couple of days, I'm going to figure this whole thing out and start cranking it out. This is the kind of story that can easily sell as a movie and video game and comic book series. Especially after reading about all the non-original ideas currently selling in Hollywood.
One positive about being on the road for a week is that I get to read a lot - on the plane ride from SF to Philly I read through half of "The Covenant of the Flame" by David Morrell, and then I read the other half from Philly to Vegas (work, not play!). I couldn't put the novel down. It rocked from beginning to end. Loved the ideas Morrell talked about. Very "Da Vinci Code" years before Da Vinci Code was published. I also loved his writing style on that book...definitely something I can emulate. My next book is either "The Other" by Thomas Tryon or "The Golden"by Lucius Shepard. Two supposed classics of the horror world - one from the 70's and one from the early 90's. And after that I have to read Book Five of Harry Potter!!! Now that filming has begun on that one, I have to read it!!
OK, that's all for now. Going to see Underworld 2 next week...More on that after I see it!!